Kathryn P. Shirk

Operations

Kate Shirk

Chief Administrative Officer

Email: kshirk@fortpittcapital.com

FOCUS

Kate proactively aligns administrative functions with Fort Pitt’s strategic objectives. Kate believes in the importance of having the right people in the right seats, doing the right things, at the right time, ensuring Fort Pitt achieves its strategic priorities. In her multifaceted role, Kate not only leads Human Resources and oversees Finance & Accounting but also collaborates closely with Compliance to provide comprehensive support. Additionally, Kate is committed to enhancing operational efficiency and maintaining compliance across the firm.  She accomplishes this by ensuring the smooth functioning of Fort Pitt’s administrative processes, directing procurement activities to meet the firm’s needs efficiently, and supervising facilities management to provide a safe, functional, and conducive work environment for all employees.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Kate brings over a decade of comprehensive experience in both Human Resources and Administration.  Before joining Fort Pitt, Kate cultivated her HR expertise at a Pittsburgh-based health care provider and insurer, progressing through various HR roles to ultimately becoming an HR Manager.  Subsequently, Kate assumed the Director of Organizational Development role for a local architecture and engineering firm, where she played a key role as a member of the Firm Leadership Team.  In that capacity, she oversaw HR, IT, and Administration functions, serving as a strategic partner, employee advocate, and change agent. Kate’s commitment to professional development is evident through her attainment of certifications, including the Professional in Human Resources (PHR) designation in 2010, the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) designation in 2015, and the ICAgile Certified Professional Agility in HR (ICP-AHR) designation in 2019.  Her dedication to leadership excellence was further highlighted by her successful completion of the 2023 Schwab Executive Leadership Program and her receipt of the prestigious 2023 Peer Leadership Award, a testament to her significant impact and influence within the 2023 cohort.

EDUCATION

BA, Washington & Lee University

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Member of the Pittsburgh Human Resources Association as well as the Society for Human Resource Management.

PERSONAL

Outside of work, Kate’s favorite thing to do is read.  She is an avid reader, reading almost every day in support of her goal to read 52 books each year.  Kate also loves watching professional football, and her favorite team is, of course, the Pittsburgh Steelers. When not reading or cheering on the Black & Gold, Kate can be found exploring Pittsburgh’s restaurant scene with friends or laughing with her family.

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